Starting your day off with a bang brings awesomeness to it! Morning rituals are a great way to jump start your day and align yourself for the remainder of your daily activities. In the last couple months, I have shifted my morning routine a bit, and have started drinking warm water with fresh lemon juice before I start on anything else. And if you have been following along, you can see that I am a big fan of all things lemon.

So not only is warm water and lemon a great way to nourish your body, but it is also gives you an opportunity to center yourself before the day starts in full force. So let’s see how we can combine the physical, chemical, and emotional benefits to improve your overall health with a simple morning ritual by being:

Vitamin boost: Lemon juice is high in vitamin C and potassium, as well as calcium and copper. These vitamins help boost your immune system to fight colds and potassium stimulates nervous system function.

pH equalizer: Even though, lemon on their own are acidic, once they are ingested and metabolized, they become alkaline. As discussed before, our bodies thrive in an alkaline environment and our health depends on it.

Digestion aid: The combination of warm water and lemon helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis (that helps move things in the intestines), which promotes regular bowel movements that are important for good health in order to rid the body of toxins. In addition, the warm water with lemon helps flush out the body system by increasing urination and removing toxins through urine.

Deep hydration: Starting your day with a hydration boost helps your body perform all of its appropriate functions. Deep hydration removes toxins from inside through the gut and outside through the skin; helps reduce the stress on the body with healthy and non-fatigued adrenal glands, and even promotes weight loss by fighting off hunger cravings.

So try it for a month, just squeeze a juice from half a lemon and mix it with a cup of warm water (not hot or boiling water!).

Share in the comments below which morning rituals you already practice, and if you already do the lemon water, what benefits have you noticed?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine with healing properties close to homeopathic remedies. The therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy vary from a little mental boost; to soothing sunburns, achy muscles; relieving some anxiety; as an antiseptic, and plethora of other applications.

Aromatherapy oils are made by extracting the natural oils from various parts of plants. Typically, steam distillation is used to produce the oils. Steam will run through the plant breaking down the cells that carry the oil. The oil and steam are then carried to a cooling chamber where they are separated resulting in the capture of the essential oil.

Here is a list of a few choice oils to have handy at home:

1. Lavender: Lavender oil has this yummy, fresh floral scent with a dash of sweetness and herby aroma. It smells amazing, as it is also the most versatile of all essential oils. Therapeutically, lavender oil has a calming effect for those suffering from anxiety. Medicinally, it can be used as an antiseptic and pain reliever to soothe minor burns, insect bites and stings, and muscle or joint pain. For a little pick-me-up, even one breath will make you feel blissful.

Peppermint: Peppermint oil has a very stimulating yet soothing aroma and is easily “Mother Nature’s Icy Hot” due to its main constituent, menthol. It is effective in arousing your mental sharpness, and it can be used to relieve congestion, headaches, migraines, digestive problems, and soothe achy muscles. To help with headaches, rub a tiny bit on the temples. To relieve muscle soreness, dilute it with a carrier oil, like grape seed oil, and rub it into whatever is sore.

Improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being with a few breaths!

Eucalyptus: This oil has a very fresh and clean aroma that is sure to open up the airways. Eucalyptus oil is a natural antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. It is best used for respiratory problems like colds, coughs, asthma, and congestion, in addition to wounds, muscle pain, mental exhaustion, dental care, and skin care. Dropping a little of this in a hot bath when congested, it is a great natural way to clear the nasal passages.

Lemon: With its uplifting and fresh scent, lemon oil can help get rid of bad vibes and increase concentration and mental awareness by rubbing a few drops on the chest and throat. It is also an antiseptic and antifungal making it a wonderful fix for scrapes, cuts, and other open wounds.

Tea Tree. A widely popular form of alternative medicine, tea tree oil has astringent properties great for alleviating oily secretions of the skin (face and scalp), but it’s terpinen content soothes minor wounds without irritation.

When purchasing or using essential oils, it is important to ensure that they are 100% pure, therapeutic grade. They can be diluted with carrier oils (grapeseed, jojoba, or sweet almond oil) or water depending on what you are going to use the essential oil for. Before use, especially if you have any health concerns, consult with your health care practitioner.

The Essential Oils work as a great compliment to help enhance a healthy lifestyle!

healthy.BEing family wellness is now offering Young Living Essential Oils in the office as an independent distributor with a complete line of therapeutic grade essential oils for every day use, from aromatherapy, massage therapy, emotional health, personal care, nutritional supplements, household solutions, and much more.